Arrangement for generating a not uniform motion of primary gripping devices particularly for printing machines

ABSTRACT

Intermittent feed means for printing machines and the like having a rotating cylinder and a rotating primary gripping feed arranged along a parallel axis thereto. The combination includes a drive shaft extending from the rotary cylinder having mounted thereon a first contoured cam and a pair of axially aligned segment gears. A mounting shaft extends from the rotating gripper feed and also has mounted thereon a pair of axially aligned gears. The gears on one shaft correspond to the gears on the other shaft. A pair of cam followers are fixed to one of the segment gears mounted on the rotating gripper shaft, the cam followers being adapted to engage their corresponding cam. A lever pivotally mounted at its center about the rotary gripper shaft is provided with still another pair of rollers at each of its ends and is spring biased with respect to the segment gear mounting the first mentioned cam followers. The driving shaft contains a control cam adapted to engage one of the rollers on the rotating lever arm. Rotation of the drive shaft causes the first cam and its three engaging cam follower rollers to effect an intermittent nonuniform motion in the rotary gripping feed while the fourth cam follower riding on the second of the cams regulates the engagement and timing of the first three cams.

s ,Ptent ARRANGEMENT FOR GENERATTNG A NOT UNIIFORM MOT TON OF PRIMARYGRIIPPHNG DEVMIES PARTTCUILARLY FOR PRINTING MACHINES 2 Claims, 8Drawing Figs.

MS. (I! 271/511 lint. Cl. B65l| 5/12 Field of &arch 27l/5l,82

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 849 3/1953 Whyte 271/51 [111awwna Primary l5xaminerl-larvey C. Hornsby Assisian! Examiner-W. ScottCarson Attorney-Richard Low ABSTRACT: Intermittent feed means forprinting machines and the like having a rotating cylinder and a rotatingprimary gripping feed arranged along a parallel axis thereto. Thecombination includes a drive shaft extending from the rotary cylinderhaving mounted thereon a first contoured cam and a pair of axiallyaligned segment gears. A mounting shaft extends from the rotatinggripper feed and also has mounted thereon a pair of axially alignedgears. The gears on one shaft correspond to the gears on the othershaft. A pair of cam followers are fixed to one of the segment gearsmounted on the rotating gripper shaft, the cam followers being adaptedto engage their corresponding cam A lever pivotally mounted at itscenter about the rotary gripper shaft is provided with still anotherpair of rollers at each of its ends and is spring biased with respect tothe segment gear mounting the first mentioned cam followers. The drivingshaft contains a control cam adapted to engage one of the rollers on therotating lever arm. Rotation of the drive shaft causes the first cam andits three engaging cam follower rollers to effect an intermittentnonuniform motion in the rotary gripping feed while the fourth camfollower riding on the second of the cams regulates the engagement andtiming ofthe first three cams.

Patented Aug. 3, 1971 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Patented Aug. 3, 1971 4Sheets-Sheet HNVENTOR Lu/W Patented Aug. 3, 1971 4 Sheets-SheetIINVIENTOR I 7052; form v M W4? Patented Aug. 3, 1971 4 Sheets-Sheet 4ARRANGEMENT FOR GENERATING A NOT UNIFORM MOTION OF PRIMARY GIIIIPINGDEVICES PARTICULARLY FOR PRINTING MACHINES The present invention relatesto printing machines and in particular to a mechanism for generating thenonuniform motion ofthe primary feed gripping device therefore.

It is necessary for the primary gripping device to be rotated in thenonuniform manner according to a predetermined cycle during which itintroduces an oriented paper sheet to the im pression or printingcylinder. The motion starts from the rest position where the grippersclamp the oriented sheet and is followed by a period in which a rapidaccelerating movement carries the sheet until it reaches a speedcoincident with the circumferential speed of the printing cylinder, atwhich time the sheet is transferred to the impression cylinder orprinting cylinder. The primary gripping device thereafter rotates for asubstantial part of its circumference, subsequently slowing down to afull stop so as to be ready for the gripping of a new paper sheet.

Most ofthe known mechanisms for generating such motion employ complexgears and drive means such as a Geneva cross or a plurality of rollersfixed on uniformly rotating disc, the rollers cooperating with forkedshaped cams fixed on a shaft of the primary gripping device.

A drawback of the known mechanism is that Geneva cross does not allowoptimum acceleration to higher speeds. A further drawback is thenecessity for such devices to cooperate with stop means in order todefine the required movement. Such stop means require adjustment sincethey wear after prolonged operation. Still another drawback arises fromthe fact that the large mass ofthe cam acting on the relatively largearm of the shaft of the gripping devices has an unfavorable effect onthe operation and the life of the mechanism. Another drawback of thismechanism resides in the fact that the diameter of the primary grippingdevice becomes too small when lengthy operating cycles are required.This is particularly disadvantageous for printing machines using morethan one color, where the angle of paper is supplied might even exceed90 or in the transfer of heavy paper or cartons.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a mechanism fordriving a gripping device ofa printing machine at intermittent andnonuniform speeds, overcoming the prior art disadvantages.

lt is an object of this invention to provide a mechanism permitting thediameter of the drum of the gripping device to be substantiallyincreased so as to enable the feeding of paper of higherweightofthickness.

Another object of this invention is to simplify the means foraccelerating and decelerating the motion of the gripper device.

Still another object is to eliminate the use ofstop means.

In accordance with the present invention, feed means for a printingmachine and the like, having a rotating cylinder and a rotating primarygrip feed means arranged in a parallel axis thereto, is provided. Thefeed means comprises a drive shaft extending from the rotary cylinderand a mounting shaft ex tending from the rotary gripper feed means.Mounted on the drive shaft is a contoured cam and a pair of axiallyaligned segmented gears. Mounted on the mounting shaft is a corresponding pair of segmented gears adapted to engage with the gears onthe drive shaft. One ofthe segmented gears on the mounting shaftcontains a pair ofcam follower rollers adapted to engage the edge of thecam mounted on the drive shaft. A lever pivoted about its center ismounted on the mounting shaft and it too contains a pair of cam followerrollers at each of its ends. The lever is spring biased with respect tothe segmented gear containing the other rollers. A control cam is fixedto the driving gear. One of the cam follower rollers ofthe lever and thetwo cam follower rollers mounted on the segmented gear are adapted toengage the first mentioned contoured cam which is shaped to provideintermittent nonuniform motion in the rotary gripper feed device duringrotation of the drive shaft while the remaining roller mounted on thelever is adapted to follow the contours of the control cam to regulatethe engagement thereof and duration of engagement ofthe three earliermentioned cams.

Full details of the present invention are disclosed in the followingdescription.

In accordance with the present invention, feed means for a printingmachine and the like, having a rotating cylinder and a rotating primarygrip feed means arranged in a parallel axis thereto, is provided. Thefeed means comprises a drive shaft extending from the rotary cylinderand a mounting shaft extending from the rotary gripper feed means.Mounted on the drive shaft is a contoured cam and a pair of axiallyaligned segmented gears. Mounted on the mounting shaft is a corresponding pair of segmented gears adapted to engage with the gears onthe drive shaft. One ofthe segmented gears on the mounting shaftcontains a pair of cam follower rollers adapted to engage the edge ofthe cam mounted on the drive shaft. A lever pivoted about its center ismounted on the mounting shaft and it too contains a pair of cam followerrollers at each of its ends. The lever is spring biased with respect tothe segmented gear containing the other rollers. A control cam is fixedto the driving gear. One of the cam follower rollers of the lever andthe two cam follower rollers mounted on the segmented gear are adaptedto engage the first mentioned contoured cam which is shaped to provideintermittent nonu niform motion in the rotary gripper feed device duringrotation of the drive shaft while the remaining roller mounted on thelever is adapted to follow the contours of the control cam to regulatethe engagement thereof and duration of engagement ofthe three earliermentioned cams.

Full details of the present invention are disclosed in the followingdescription.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which FIG.1 is an elevation of a mechanism according to the prcsentinvention, F

FIG. 2 across section along the line 2-2 asindicated in FIG.

FIGS. 3 to 8 are elevations of the mechanism as shown in FIG. I showingits different position during its operation.

Reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, there will be seen a driving shaft I of aconventional compression cylinder 36. Fixed to the end of the shaft I bymeans of a key way 3 is an indented gear segment 5 by which acceleratedspeed is to be obtained. A contoured control cam 7 is fixed to thesegmented gear 5 by means of screws 8 and bolts 9. A second indentedgear segment 6 by which normal speed is obtained is also fixed to theshaft I by means of the same key way 3. Segments 5 and s are secured bya nut 4. A contoured guiding cam I0 is fixed to the segmented gear 6 bymeans of screws 11. The cams 7 and It) and the gears 6 by means ofscrews 11. The cams 7 and I0 and the gears 5 and 6 define paths aboutthe axis ofthe shaft 1.

The gripping device is mounted on a shaft 2 and includes paper sheetguiding plates 35 which are fixed by means of a key way 12 to the shaft.To the end of the shaft 2 iffixed an indented gear segment 13cooperating with the segment 5 for accelerated speed and an indentedgear segment I4 cooperating with the gear segment 6 for normal speed.The gear seg ments l3 and I4 are secured axially on the end of the shaftby a nut 19. The driving shaft 1 and the mounting shaft 2 for thegripping device are both supported by the sidewalls 34 of he frame oftheprinting machine. A two arm lever I5 is pivotally mounted on the hub ofthe indented segment 14, and has a supporting roller 24 arranged on oneof its ends. The roller 24 is radially adjustable by being fixed on aneccentric bolt 23. A disclike insert 17 supporting a roller bearing I8is fixed on the opposite end of the lever I5 by means of a bolt 16. Thetwo arm lever I5 has a recess, housing a pressure spring 28 which bearswith one end against a stop 27 fixed on the indented segment Id. Thestop 27 is provided with a set screw 29 bearing against a shoulderextending from the hub of the two arm lever 15. In this manner the lever15 is adjustable positioned to have the roller 18 bear against the edgeof the cam 8 with a predetermined bias. The indented segment 14 isprovided adjacent to its periphery with a bolt 25 supporting a guidingroller 26 and with a bolt 20, on which a disk-shaped insert 21 is fixedand which supports a second guide roller bearing 22. The driving shaft 1receives its motion as seen by the arrow from the main drive of themachine in a conventional manner. The rotating primary gripping deviceis mounted on the shaft 2, the guide plates 35 support grippers 31 andstops 32 for clamping the paper sheet (see FIG, 2). The cams 7 and 10are, of course, contoured in the known manner to produce the movementprescribed to them and to effect intermittent nonuniform motion of thegripper feed.

The described structure operates synchronously and sequentially asfollows.

The operating cycle is initiated when the grippers 31 of the primarygripping device clamp a paper sheet 30. In the course of such clamping,the grippers 31 of the primary gripping device are of course at rest,being placed in this condition by so selecting the peripheral edge ofthe guiding cam 10 so that the guiding roller bearing follower 22 abutsagainst it. (See FIG. 1). A constant contact pressure between theguiding roller 22 and the guiding cam 10 is obtained by the springloaded roller 18 which itself is urged against the edge of the bearingcam 7 by the pressure spring 28. In the rest position the grippers arein a very stable and fixed condition. The stable position of the primarygripping device ends after the grippers 31 effectively clamp the sheet.Immediately thereafter its accelerating motion starts. FIG. 1illustrates the end of the rest position and the start of the movementofthe primary gripping device. The rapid accelerated movement of theprimary gripping device is caused by the contact ofthe segments 5 and 13and their rotation in response to the shape of the guiding cam 10. Therapid accelerated movement ends as the indented segments 6 and 14 comeinto engagement. The spring loaded cam follower 18 rolls along the edgeof the bearing cam 7 generating in the course of this movement a forcewhich causes the guiding roller 22 to disengage from the guiding cam 10.During the further movement of the segments 6 and 14, the paper sheet 30is grasped by the grippers 33 ofthe impression cylinder as shown in FIG.3 preparatory for complete transfer to the impression cylinder. Duringthe subsequent movement and prior to the time the indented gear segments6 and come out of engagement, the guiding roller 26 and the controlroller 24 come in to contact with the rotated circumference of theguiding cam 10. The guiding cam 10 then causes the indented segments 6and 14 to move smoothly out of engagement and produces a further rapidacceleration of the primary gripping device by a smooth reengagement ofthe indented segments 5 and 13 (FIG. 4). The yielding pressure of thecontrol roller 24 may be adjusted by means of the eccentric bolt 23.

FIG. 5 shows the position of the indented segments 5 and 13 during thesecond accelerated synchronous movement of the primary gripping device.Before the indented segments 5 and 13 move out of engagement, theguiding roller 22 again con tacts the guiding cam 10 and the controlroller 18 contacts the control cam 7. The shape of the control cam 7 andof the guiding cam 10 causes a smooth disengagement of the indentedsegments 5 and 13 and a deceleration of the primary gripping device to arest as indicated in FIG. 6 and 7. After the rest position during whichthe grippers 31 are opened, the primary gripping device are movedrearwardly to the position required for clamping a new paper sheet 30.The rear movement is indicated in FIG. 8. During the remainder of restposition a succeeding paper sheet 30 is clamped by the grippers 31 ofthe primary gripping device and the whole cycle is again repeated.

I claim:

1. A feed mechanism for printing machines and the like having a rotatingcylinder and rotating primary gripping feed arranged along a parallelaxis thereto, comprising in combinatlon:

a drive shaft extending from said rotating cylinder having mountedthereon a first contoured cam and a pair of axially aligned first andsecond segmented gears,

a mounting shaft extending from said rotating gripper feed havingmounted thereon a pair of axially aligned third and fourth segmentedgears respectively arranged for engagement with the said first andsecond gears,

a first and second cam follower roller fixed to said third segmentedgear mounted on said mounting shaft,

a lever pivoted about is center and mounted on said mounting shafthaving a third and fourth cam roller resiliently biasing said lever withrespect to said third segmented gear,

a second cam fixed to said driving shaft,

the rotation of said drive shaft causing said first, second and thirdroller to follow the contours of said first cam to effect intermittentnonuniform motion in said rotary gripper feed and said fourth cam rollerfollowing the contour of said second cam to control the engagement ofsaid first, second and third cams.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein said third roller is supported onan eccentrically formed bolt and is adapted to be radially adjustablewith respect to the mounting shaft.

1. A feed mechanism for printing machines and the like having a rotatingcylinder and rotating primary gripping feed arranged along a parallelaxis thereto, comprising in combination: a drive shaft extending fromsaid rotating cylinder having mounted thereon a first contoured cam anda pair of axially aligned first and second segmented gears, a mountingshaft extending from said rotating gripper feed having mounted thereon apair of axially aligned third and fourth segmented gears respectivelyarranged for engagement with the said first and second gears, a firstand second cam follower roller fixed to said third segmented gearmounted on said mounting shaft, a lever pivoted about is center andmounted on said mounting shaft having a third and fourth cam rollerresiliently biasing said lever with respect to said third segmentedgear, a second cam fixed to said driving shaft, the rotation of saiddrive shaft causing said first, second and third roller to follow thecontours of said first cam to effect intermittent nonuniform motion insaid rotary gripper feed and said fourth cam roller following thecontour of said second cam to control the engagement of said first,second and third cams.
 2. The combination of claim 1, wherein said thirdroller is supported on an eccentrically formed bolt and is adapted to beradially adjustable with respect to the mounting shaft.